Trail to Freedom

Succeeding in Georgetown, D.C.

Immediately, the Gwinns and the rest of the former Conway slaves established two businesses, a laundry and a bakery in Georgetown. By July, they were making a profit when Moncure Conway found them. He then realized that African Americans, if free, could make a living for themselves. Reportedly, his father’s former slaves were overjoyed to see Moncure. He said that he came there “to gather my people together.” Some said he was indeed their Moses leading them to the promised land.

Conway took the former slaves on a perilous journey west. Pretending he was their master, he traveled with them by train to Yellow Springs, Ohio.